Just as Jesus showed His awesome love for us by dying for our sins, we should also show our love and support by lifting up our military and armed forces in prayer. We thank God that our country is still free to worship God and Jesus without major persecution compared to other countries. We owe this act of obedience to God through Jesus and should be thankful for our military’s continued sacrifice that was paid for our freedoms we have today. Our prayers are important for our nation and our troops especially during these dark days. Jesus said in John 15:13, “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.”
We are to pray through the Holy Spirit – Ephesians 6:18, Romans 12:12-13. God’s word tells us that the Holy Spirit intercedes during our weakness according to His will where we are so burdened to the point that we do not know what to pray for. The Spirit utters groanings on our behalf that cannot be put into words as stated in Romans 8:26-27, “Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. Jesus teaches us that if we believe our prayers will be answered according to His will and glorification, they will be answered – John 14:13-14, Matthew 21:22. We are to pray with faith while removing all doubts. Praying in strong faith will bear much fruit – John 15:7-8. Praying with confidence according to His will strengthens our faith of believing that our prayers will be answered – 1 John 5:14-15. If we pray without faith, we are like a sea wave tossed about by the wind – James 1:5-6. If we are nervous or anxious, this can hinder our prayers by allowing doubt to creep in – Philippians 4:6-7. Jesus taught us the importance of steadfast prayer by going to a mountain alone and praying all night to God the Father – Luke 6:12. Jesus also teaches us the importance and power of praying together with two or more saints as explained in Matthew 18:19-20, “Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”
Jesus teaches us the Lord’s Prayer and how we should pray. We are to pray in secret to our Father in heaven who will openly reward us as we read in Matthew 6:6-13, “…when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.” Jesus teaches us that our Father in heaven will give us much better gifts in the Spirit if we ask Him compared to our earthly father – Luke 11:11-13. Paul and Silas, during their ministry of spreading the gospel, were cast into prison but were saved by praying and singing to God. God had caused a great earthquake to open the prison gates that freed them – Acts 16:25-26.
God gladly answers prayers of those that do His will and obey His instructions according to His will – 1 John 3:22. The bible instructs us to pray everywhere without anger as explained in 1 Timothy 2:8. We are to continue praying earnestly with all thanksgiving – Colossians 4:2. It is God’s will through His Son Jesus that we pray to Him without ceasing as stated in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-19, “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit.” If we repent and seek God with all our heart, He will hear our prayers as we read in Jeremiah 29:11-13, “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.” God tells us we should humble ourselves and seek Him by turning away from evil ways. If we do this, He will hear us and be alert to our prayers as stated in 2 Chronicles 7:14-15, “if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayer that is made in this place.”
God delights in the prayers of the righteous – Proverbs 15:8. The bible tells us in James 5:16, “…The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” Many times, we underestimate the awesome power of prayer for those who love Him and do His will. God answered Elijah’s prayer of controlling the weather by causing it not to rain on the land for 3.5 years where God would be glorified. Later, God answered Elijah’s prayer again for it to rain again on the land as we read in James 5:17-18, “Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit.” Peter, a disciple of Jesus, was able to bring a dead woman named Tabitha back to life by kneeling down and praying – Acts 9:36-41. Another example is when King Herod had killed James, the brother of John, with the sword because it pleased the Jews to reject the preaching of the gospel. Peter was also cast into prison by Herod to suffer the same fate. However, the church had been in constant prayer for Peter where he was rescued by the Lord’s angel – Acts 12:5-11.
Even when we think our prayers are not getting answered, God moves in mysterious ways. His ways are above ours and He knows what is best for us. Sometimes our answered prayers are delayed by evil forces as with the prophet Daniel, as it took 21 days – Daniel 10:12-14. God does NOT answer prayers that are NOT part of His will. If your prayers are for your own prideful and selfish pleasures, then they will go unanswered – James 4:3. If we walk in darkness and do not follow God’s word and commandments, then our prayers are an abomination to God – Proverbs 28:9. Jesus teaches of how NOT to pray as in Matthew 6:5, “And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.” Also, we must forgive others and have love for one another in order for our prayers to not be hindered. God will not forgive us unless we forgive others our trespasses – Mark 11:24-25. The bible tells the elders of the church to lay hands on and pray for the sick to be healed and to confess our sins one to another in prayer – James 5:13-16.
We know that nothing is impossible for God and that all things work together for good that love Him according to His will – Luke 1:37, Romans 8:28. Let us have peace in knowing that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us – Philippians 4:13. We have true salvation and a direct communication path to God as we read in 1 Timothy 2:5, “For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus.”
Do you know where you will spend eternity after you die on earth? Will Jesus be your Lord and Savior or your eternal judge – John 3:15-21, Romans 2:16, 2 Timothy 4:1? Jesus says He is the narrow gate to heaven where it is difficult to find and only a few will enter by it where many will enter the easy, wide and broad gate that leads to Hell and destruction – Matthew 7:13-14. Will you experience the second eternal death (spiritual death) – Revelation 2:11, Revelation 20:6, Revelation 21:8? Do you know for sure that you are written in the eternal Lamb’s Book of Life – Revelation 3:5, Revelation 20:12-15? The place called Hell is NOT a myth and is very real and an extremely scary place – Watch this Video!
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